WA CARES FUND BENEFITS OPEN, LAUNCHING NATION'S FIRST PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM

The following information was released by the office of the Governor of Washington:

Starting tomorrow,Washingtonwill provide the first benefits through WA Cares, its first-in-the-nationlong-term carebenefit programinsurance program.

WA Cares is designed tohelp Washingtonianslive safely and independently intheir homes longer andprovide a much-needed financial resource for families.MostWashingtonworkers earn long-term care benefitsthey can use later in lifethrough automatic contributions to WA Cares.

"This is a historic moment for Washington as the first and only state to offer workers access to affordable long-term care," saidGovernor Bob Ferguson."Most of us will need long-term care at some point in our lives.I'mproud Washington is the first state in the country tooffer a program like WA Cares.Once again, Washington state is leading the way."

Nearlyhalf a millionWashingtonians will experience the need for long-term care service or support within the next ten years, but for most people, paying for it is a struggle.Less than 3% of Americanshave a private long-term care insurance policy or enough personal savings to pay out of pocket for long-term care support and services.According to theU.S. Federal Reserve, more than a third of Americans do not have more than $400 in savings for emergencies.More than 1 million Washingtoniansrent theirhome, andcannot tap into home equity to cover long-term care expenses.

WA Cares can be a lifeline for these families.WA Cares benefits pay for services not usually covered by private insurance or Medicare, things like a home care aide, safety features like grab bars, ramps, bathroom retrofits, care supplies,mealsand transportation.These covered support and services help us stay in our homes whenwe needassistancewith daily living tasks because ofa serious injury, debilitating disease, or the normal challenges that can come with aging.

WA Cares benefits are paid for with a monthly payroll contribution of 0.58% per paycheck.Contributions are automatic for most Washington workers.To check yourcontribution history, create a benefits account to see your annual statement.

Currently, the full benefit amount is$36,500, butwill automatically grow with inflation.

WA Caresis there for Washington families

Washingtonians who qualifycanchoosethebenefits they wantfrom a widerange of services and supports,like in-home care, home modifications, home-delivered meals and adaptive equipment like a walker or bath chair.They can also use their benefits to pay aloved one, including their spouse, to provide care.

How to apply

Toqualify for benefits, applicants must meeta contribution requirementanda careneeds requirement. Even workers or recent retirees who have only contributed for part of a year since July 2023 may have earned benefits they can use if they need care.

Toget started, applicants create a benefits account and fill out a brief online application. They can also get help from a loved one orrepresentative, orcall 844-CARE4WA to apply over the phone. Applicants who want in-person applicationsupportcanfind their local Area Agency on Aging onlineor call 855-567-0252.

WA Careschecksthe worker's contribution history to confirm theymeet the contribution requirement.Todeterminewhether the applicant meets the care needs requirement,aWA Cares team membermeetswiththemto talk about help they need with daily activities like bathing, eating, managingmedicationsand moving around the house.

Using benefits

Onceapproved,the beneficiarycan access up to $36,500in covered services and supports. The benefit amount grows automatically over time with inflation.